Monday, July 30, 2007

Google Maps Popular Local Search Suggestions (US and Japan) - Here is a useful and interesting new feature added to Google Maps recently that will suggest popular queries made by other Google Maps users for a given city/town. Use this feature to see the most popular local searches for a city and learn about what to do and what to see! It's easy to use - simply type in the city name (big or small) in the "Search the Map" field and wait for the list of suggestions to be listed! For example, here are the popular suggestions for the city of Boston, MA: parking garage, mbta, quincy market, fenway park, john f kennedy presidential library, seaport hotel, avalon, logan airport, legal seafood, shaws. It should give you ideas of what to look for or plan to take in.. It's like a personal Google Maps concierge! :)

New countries can now be searched on Google Maps(Ireland & Hong Kong)- Google Maps users around the world can now search for addresses, place names and points of interest in Ireland and Hong Kong!

Lord of the Rings MapTool - Created using the Google Maps API. Would someone please do something like this for the Harry Potter series! :) [via]

SundanceChannel Eco-mmunity Map:The Eco-mmunity Map allows users to list and search for green individuals, businesses, special attractions and action points anywhere in the world. Check out the great map markers and cool info-windows! Very nicely done.

FindByClick's Layercake launches - The popular coffee (Starbucks Tim Hortons and Timothy's) and books (Borders, B&N) finder mashup has undergone a major update to include a new layercake concept that shows you all points from the database in a given area. Simply move the map and all related points for that area show up. Check out this FindByClick blog post for more details..

RouteYou - Community map site for walking biking, motoring and touring routes

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

CraigStats is a new Google Maps rental market mashup for the city of San Francisco. It combines rental listings from Craigslist, Google Maps and FortiusOne's GeoIQ for heatmapping (see image to the right), along with several options to analyze the entire rental market or by micro-area of San Francisco. To learn more about Ethan Garner's inspiration to create CraigStats, take a look at "Overall Stats/Notes" -> "Why / Who did this?" It's an interesting story!

Chadwick Matlin and E. J. Kalafarski have created a timely mashup to help you track the U.S. presidential election candidates' campaign trails across the country. MapTheCandidates.com provides a daily digest by mashing up with campaign YouTube videos and articles and also integrates timeline technology to let you take control of the viewing experience. You won't get lost in how to make use of the great UI this map provides either. A simple, 4 step instruction guide along the top of the map helps you to quickly get the most out of this great Google Maps mashup.__________

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

BBC Berkshire in the UK has made extensive use of Google My Maps to communicate with area residents about the current flood situation in that region. Berkshire Floods 2007 is a page that tells you how to use this Google My Map to view, watch and listen to BBC reports from correspondents in the area. The My Map embeds YouTube videos, links off to BBC Radio audio clips and describes the status in specific areas. This "NewsMap" example highlights how quickly a news organization could mobilize a Google Map of an affected area to integrate aspects of their content to provide both a public service and create a way to distribute their stories. My Maps can be found on Google Maps on the tab labeled My Maps. (More info here..)

China - China now has cities and roads as well as map searching for cities and addresses!Taiwan - Streets, roads and placename/address searching.Singapore - Streets and roads existed before and now placename/address searching does too. Transit markers are also present.More from July 1st:Expanded coverage in IndiaUAE added

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

In Part 1 of my post introducing Google geo search I placed a focus on those searching with this new functionality within Google Maps (also available in Earth). In part 2 I'd like to present resources to the Google Maps API developer that are essential for you to turn those hours of hard work you've put in to now be discoverable to the millions of visitors to Google Maps:

Start by watching this excellent talk at the recent Google Developer Day held on May 31st, 2007. Google's Lior Ron and Pamela Fox help you understand geo search in more detail, and why this is a good thing for you, the Maps API developer. This video also helps you to decide to create your content in KML vs. GeoRSS by taking a deep (technical) dive into both.

KML Reference Documentation - Want to learn more about KML? Here is a detailed introduction to help you learn more about the KML standard including samples, tutorials and references.

Mapplets - While not directly included in geo search, Mapplets are another way for you to drive traffic to your Google Maps mashup or tool. Review this post I made recently that will help you learn about Mapplets and then check out this reference doc to help you start creating them. Once complete your Mapplet will be present in the Google Maps Directory where visitors to Google Maps can incorporate your mashup or tool directly into their Google Maps view. You can also create a teaser for them that will then direct them to your site to use expanded features, perhaps also allowing you monetize this user.

Geo search is now indexing existing content from the Google Earth Community, My Maps and other sites such as Mapufacture, ESRI ArcGIS, Yahoo Pipes, NASA WorldWind, Flickr and Platial. If you want your content to be included in this ground breaking new search trend on the (geo) web it's essential for you to review the above links and make your content accessible to Google geo search! As you do this you will be helping to bring more value to the "user-created content" link for everyone searching and realize many new visitors to your mashup.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Update (Oct.16/07): Geo Search is evolving! check this post for an update. For note, the "User-created content" label used throughout this post has been changed to "Community maps" on Google Maps.

When you think of Searching on Google Maps, what do you think of? Do you think of searching for things like Pizza, or Flowers in your area? Do you think of searching for a street address, city/town name or maybe even a tourist hotspot or point of interest? These are all things you can search on Google Maps but the new "Geo Search" functionality that has been introduced to Google Maps is giving you new access to search for geographical information from across the "geo web" and making your Google Maps searches so much more valuable. Introduced back in the Spring (07), Google's geo search is integrated into both Google Maps and Google Earth and gives you the power to search across thousands of KML documents (think HTML pages for the geo web) as well as websites like Platial that have created KML versions of their content making it indexed and searchable (more on this in Part 2). It also searches the heaps of My Maps being created by Google Maps users each day.

Here's how to view geo search results on Google Maps:

- Visit Google Maps- Enter your search term (Eg: windsurfing in San Francisco) then, Search Maps- Red pins appear first - these are traditional Google Local Business results that you're used to seeing- Scroll down to the bottom of the list and see the link titled: "See user-created contentNew!"- Clicking this link brings you to a list of geo web search results- Note that blue pins indicate user created content while red indicate Google Maps Local Business data.

..In this "windsurfing" example you'll notice content is pulled from a variety of "geo web" sources - VirtualGlobetrotting.com, KeyHole (Google Earth Community), Google (My Maps), Platial and various windsurfing websites. This means that for Google Maps mashups that have gone through the process to make their content available in KML format (more on this in Part 2 of this post), their information is now searchable right from within Google Maps using this new geo search feature!Examples of how Geo Search can help you:

Combine Google Maps local business search with user-created content - Using the above example, find a world renowned windsurfing hotspot such as "Windsurfing Heaven" in San Francisco, then match it up with local businesses that might rent you gear in that location. Searching user-created content will also allow you to fill gaps or missing locations in the existing Google Maps local business search.

International Business Searching - As Google Maps continues to roll out new local data (streets/roads and business search), geo search exists as a way to search for businesses in locations where no local business search even exists. For example, say you're looking for a hotel in Montego Bay, Jamaica - a search reveals 97 hotels for that region, all from user-created content. Bangkok, Thailand or Mumbai, India hotel searching will also help you find a hotel and match it up with street mapping that exists for India and Thailand, where local search isn't yet possible.

Create your own Map from geo search results - Among the options from within each geo search result is the ability to save that particular location to your own Google My Map (Directions and Search Nearby are the other options). This lets you build your own map of all the results you find, from many searches. This might help you build a travel itinerary or an event map.

Search for Outdoor Activities - For example, when planning your next trip to Toronto, searching for "Roller Blading Toronto" will reveal several placemarks along the Lakeshore Trail that, which from my own personal experience, is a perfect location to skate! Since typical local business searches don't reveal free, outdoor activities (that locals are contributing) Google's geo search is a perfect way to look for things where you live or a place you might be visiting (such as hiking, biking, jogging etc..).

Points of Interest Searching - This is fun.. enter a point of interest you might be visiting, no matter how obscure and take a look at what users are saying in their My Maps or photo posts. You might notice a high concentration of places to to go to take a great photo or observe a feature that the guides don't call out to you. Another search term John Hanke suggested in his inaugural Lat-Long Blog post is "Jerry Seinfeld New York" which reveals real locations from the fictional tv series. Fun to add to your NYC travel itinerary if you're a fan. Quick Tip: For locations with thousands of results (eg: Big Ben), be sure to "see all results" to get your "user-created" content option.

EyeStride gives users a sneak peek:Michael Balyasny and his newly formed company "Eyestride" is busy building a really nice way for you to create your own virtual tours from your digital photos. For samples of some of these tours take a look at: http://tours.eyestride.com to see what's to come. Once launched, EyeStride will let you stitch together photos you took in the order taken or as you'd like them ordered in tour format. At each stop, or photo in your tour there are a lot of options to explore that particular photo or point of interest.. Take a look!

A Music Life Map: Israel Kamakawiwoole - Here is a "Life Map" of the Hawaiian Musician Israel Kamakawiwoole. This mashup is user generated allowing fans to upload text, images, or a video via a link to YouTube.

TourMapia - This mashup helps you find YouTube videos for a particular location but specific to travel. For example, many results include travel bureau videos of regions or cities making it particularly helpful for researching locations for trip planning. Place/remove pins from the map and wait for videos to appear.. You need to be a bit patient for the mashup to do its thing. This mashup makes use of the both the Google Maps and YouTube APIs, AJAX and geocoding from GeoNames.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

As a long time reader of WIRED Magazine (Jan/95 was the first one I bought) I was excited to hear that WIRED was spotlighting Google Maps in this month's issue. I held off reading the online version even though countless blogosphere links pointed me there when the mag first hit the streets. No, I'd wait for it to arrive to my home to read the article right.. in print, sitting down in a comfortable chair. That I did this weekend and I was impressed! (Google Maps and the Rise of the Hyperlocal Web) greets you on the front cover while the article is titled: "The Whole Earth, Cataloged - How Google Maps is changing the way we see the world." Evan Ratliff does a nice job to chronicle the rise of Google Maps, Earth and the Mashup.. as well as the personal journey of John Hanke, Google's Director of all things geo at Google. I like how Evan intertwines what Google Maps is facilitating today with the historic reflections of cartography. Jason Lee and Jake Swearingen do a nice job on illustrations and sidebar for the piece making you feel as though you're on Google Maps as you read the article.. a nice touch. :) If you haven't already read the article.. Follow the link, or pick up the mag for nicer reading.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

The evolution of Google Maps and the Google Maps mashup continues with another MAJOR new Google Maps feature that puts you more in control of the map you view, create, and today.. mash up for yourself! A simple new viewing feature will let you view a mashup from within Google Maps, as well as layer multiple mashups for an expanded view previously only possible by opening each mashup's website individually!

Not long ago you might remember my post about Google Mapplets. Mapplets are compact versions of Google Maps mashups that are viewable from directly within the Google Maps site itself. Since May 31st, numerous Google Maps geo-developers have been hard at work creating Mapplet versions of their mashups accessible, until today, through a special preview website. Today Google is making these Mapplets available to you and the public on Google Maps to view, interact with, and mash up with other Mapplets for a totally customizable Google Maps viewing experience.

To get started all you need to do is visit Google Maps and select the My Maps tab. To add Mapplets to your view, just click on the "Add Content" link and explore or search the directory for Mapplets that appeal to you. You might have already gotten in and played around with the easy maps creation tool called My Maps that was launched back on Apr.5/07? Perhaps you've created your own Google Map with points, photos or videos? You can now layer these My Maps creations among other third party Mapplets, then save the resulting view you've compiled as its own mashup in your My Maps tab for later viewing! Google Maps users in following countries will be able to make use of this new feature: US, the UK, Canada, Australia, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia; Also available in the following languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Russian and Chinese (TW).

I've been blogging about Google Maps mashups and tools created by people all over the world since April of 2005 and nothing throughout the course of the maps mashup phenomenon has come close to the power and implications of this new tool. It harnesses the collective mass of Google Maps mashups, user generated content and incredibly simple aggregation ability to make for an impressive mapping tool. Today is indeed an important day in the history of the Google Maps mashup.. a day when the reigns get turned over to the Google Maps user to make their own mashup from those already created.. It's just the beginning too!

If you're a Google Maps geo-developer and you haven't yet ported your mashup to a Mapplet, don't get left out.. Get Started Here!

Tour De France Live Tracker 2007:The 2007 Tour de France is underway and the Ubilabs Tour de France Live Tracker 2007 is live once again. This Google Maps mashup will let you track the stage that is currently underway, and follow GPS-tracked cyclists that are deep in the race.. in real-time!See their exact location, as well heart rate, cadence, speed and power. Cool team jersey map markers indicate the T-Mobile, Gerolsteiner, Discovery Channel, CSC, Saunier Duval and Liquigasracer cyclists on the map. This mashup even makes use of the Twitter API for constant updates (See Live Ticker)! This is a great way to keep up with the race through a truly interactive Google Maps interface! Hurry to take a good look at this mashup before the Tour wraps up in beautiful Paris on July 29th!

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

A modern day and contemporary update to the 7 Wonders of the World has concluded and the winners have been announced after more than 100 million people voted by electronic means. Think of it as the People's Choice awards for the existing 7 Wonders of the World list. The final list was announced on July 7, 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal.

Here are the winners:

Chichen Itza

Christ the Redeemer

Great Wall

Machu Picchu

Petra

Roman Colosseum

Taj Mahal

Here to help you view the list by Google Map are Juan Taylor and Virender Ajmani's new mashups:

Friday, July 06, 2007

Live Earth Concert Google Map with Driving Directions - Ted Nye has created a timely and handy Maps tool for those of you heading to the Live Earth Concert in the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, or Australia. Look to the bottom right of the map and enter your starting address and choose the location for the concert you're attending which has been pre-set in the drop down menu. The mashup also serves as a Google Maps view of the locations where the concert will be taking place.

Mashup of airports, airlines and connections - This mashup creator informs us that "..AirDB is a project that aims to collect information about airport, airlines, and connections world wide". Google Maps is integrated to show locations of airports in a specific country or center the map on a particular airport to see a local view with details and other secondary airports nearby (Example here). You can also map the airports which a specific airline flies to - (See British Airways as an example). Finally, routes are also Google-mapped giving you a view of the route and lots of detail (Example here). Though not the prettiest UI, map pin design or page navigation, it is a very useful mashup if you're trying to learn more about a particular airport and airlines that fly to and from it.

130,000 US Public Schools.. Mapped!Public School Portal lets you search and Google map 130,000 US public schools by zip code or by city/state. Each school has detailed information including school website, driving directions, number of teachers, students and even the cultural mix of students attending. It's very interesting. Public School portal also includes the "Best 100 US high schools" (as reported by Newsweek).

Baltimore Homicides in 2007 - The Baltimore Sun has created a Google Map withoptions for sorting and displaying Baltimore murder locations that occurred this year using different criteria, such as the date of the murder and the district or ZIP code in which the victim was found. It also allows users to sort by certain characteristics of the victims, such as age, gender, race and cause of death.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is on the map! Residents of and visitors to the UAE can now view streets and roads for major cities such as Dubai and Abu-Dhabi! While map searching isn't yet available there, searching for "User-created content" on Google Maps searching will. For example, center the map on the UAE and enter "Ski Dubai", or other search terms for Dubai to see where users of the geoweb have plotted locations for their content. It's very helpful.